The Flames over Notre Dame Cathedral

a poem by Elizabeth Padillo Olesen, Denmark

The flames eat up the glory of Notre Dame Fire rages in fury and more than 400 firefightersare not able to assuage quickly its raging fury that is about to devour Notre Dame -the cultural pride of Paris, the relics of France’s history,built and renovated for God’s glory!

The tower falls down, melted and consumed by fireIts spire gone, like a maiden, surrendering all her strength, fallen and conquered byits own enemy beyond control, displaying laboursof grandeur as vain glory that can disappear at any moment, or at a wink of an eye.

Notre Dame Cathedral is window to a great masterpiece of art - laboured and perfected in decades and centuries :a destination for pilgrims, believers and art lovers a meeting point of beauty and mystery before the human eyes and human heartson Sunday mass and eucharist of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection.

And yet Notre Dame Cathedral is also a symbol of God’s presence in history: A witness to the human spirit in spite of falls and destructionFor in the heart of Nortre Dame in Paris,humanity remembers the Virgin Mary who in humility and complete obedience, offered her life to the sole purpose of God.

Let the fires and enemies arisebut the spirit of God dwells and remains in the Living Notre Dame in people’s hearts.